27 (A)Do not withhold good from [a]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (C)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (D)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (E)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (F)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [b]He is (G)intimate with the upright.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  2. Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(A)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(B)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(C) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(D)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(E)

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[a](A)Ill-gotten gains do not benefit,
But righteousness rescues from death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:2 Lit Treasures of wickedness

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(A)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(B)

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Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

11 A (A)false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a (B)just weight is His delight.

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11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

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One who (A)guards his mouth protects his life;
One who (B)opens wide his lips [a]comes to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his

Those who guard their lips(A) preserve their lives,(B)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(C)

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11 Wealth obtained from [a]nothing dwindles,
But one who gathers [b]by labor increases it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Prob. referring to fraud
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Lit by hand

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(A)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

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One who (A)walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But one who is (B)devious in his ways despises Him.

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Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

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A (A)trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a (B)false witness (C)declares lies.

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An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(A)

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27 He who (A)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (B)hates bribes will live.

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27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(A)

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By (A)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [a]the (B)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(A) evil is avoided.(B)

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Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.

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Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain(A) with injustice.(B)

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11 A (A)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [a]weights of the bag are His [b]concern.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  2. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.(A)

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A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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